Senior/Principal Project Manager
A growing advanced materials manufacturer east of St Paul in Western Wisconsin is seeking a Senior or Principal Project Engineer to lead several high-profile capital equipment, manufacturing technology, and process-development initiatives.
This role is centered on project ownership from concept through successful implementation. The successful candidate will translate business and customer requirements into technical solutions, evaluate equipment and vendors, develop project budgets and timelines, lead trials and qualification activities, and drive projects through commissioning and production startup.
Several upcoming initiatives involve new or unconventional applications of manufacturing technology, making this an opportunity for a project manager or engineer who enjoys solving problems where the answer is not already defined. This individual will work closely with Operations, Engineering/R&D, Quality, Sales, Supply Chain, external vendors, and senior leadership.
The position can be leveled based on experience. A strong Senior-level candidate will primarily focus on leading and executing critical engineering projects, while a more experienced Principal-level candidate will additionally assume broader responsibilities across technical leadership, supply chain, continuous improvement, quality systems, and organizational development.
Responsibilities
- Lead complex capital equipment, manufacturing technology, and process-development projects from initial concept through equipment selection, installation, qualification, startup, and successful operational handoff.
- Develop project scope, technical requirements, capital budgets, schedules, milestones, risk assessments, and implementation plans while maintaining ownership of project outcomes.
- Evaluate equipment, technologies, and vendors; lead technical reviews and trials; analyze results; and independently determine appropriate next steps as projects evolve.
- Partner with equipment manufacturers and technical suppliers to develop solutions for new or unconventional manufacturing applications, including customized equipment or process configurations.
- Lead equipment and process commissioning and qualification activities, including IQ/OQ/PQ or comparable validation methodologies where applicable.
- Provide clear project updates, technical recommendations, budget implications, risks, and timelines to senior leadership while leading cross-functional teams across Operations, R&D/Engineering, Quality, Sales, Supply Chain, and external partners.
- Depending on experience, provide broader technical and organizational leadership in areas such as supply-chain strategy, process improvement, ISO/quality systems, supplier development, engineering standards, and mentoring or development of technical employees.
Desired Skills and Experience
- Bachelor's Degree in an engineering discipline required, Master's and/or PhD is preferred but not required.
- Proven experience leading significant capital equipment, process-development, or manufacturing technology projects from concept through successful implementation.
- Demonstrated ability to independently work through technically ambiguous problems, evaluate alternatives, and translate incomplete information into an executable path forward.
- Strong equipment selection, vendor management, technical-trial, commissioning, and manufacturing process-development experience.
- Strong project-management capabilities, including ownership of budgets, schedules, risks, deliverables, and cross-functional stakeholder alignment.
- Engineering experience within manufacturing, process, mechanical, chemical, industrial, materials, or a related technical discipline, with experience in plastics, polymers, extrusion, compounding, specialty materials, or chemicals considered particularly relevant.
- Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to confidently communicate technical recommendations and project status to senior leadership, customers, suppliers, and cross-functional teams.
- Experience with IQ/OQ/PQ, PFMEA, RCA/CAPA, ISO systems, Lean/Six Sigma, supply chain, supplier development, or people leadership is preferred and may support broader Principal-level responsibilities.
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